(2) One of the most accessible of all jazz pianists, Gene Harris' soulful style (influenced by Oscar Peterson and containing the blues-iness of a Junior Mance) was immediately likable and predictably excellent. After playing in an Army band (1951-1954), he formed a trio with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy which was, by 1956, known as the Three Sounds. The group was quite popular, and recorded regularly during 1956-1970 for Blue Note and Verve. Although the personnel changed and the music became more R&B-oriented in the early '70s, Harris retained the Three Sounds name for his later Blue Note sets. He retired to Boise, ID, in 1977, and was largely forgotten when Ray Brown persuaded him to return to the spotlight in the early '80s. Harris worked for a time with the Ray Brown Trio and led his own quartets in the years to follow, recording regularly for Concord and heading the Phillip Morris Superband on a few tours; 1998's Tribute to Count Basie even earned a Grammy nomination. While awaiting a kidney transplant, he died on January 16, 2000, at the age of 66. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
Black and Blue
Gene Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pains in my head, feel like old Ned
What did I do to be so black and blue?
No joys for me, no company
Even the mouse ran from my house
All my life through I've been so black and blue
Cause I can't hide what is on my face
I'm so forlorn. Life's just a thorn
My heart is torn. Why was I born?
What did I do to be so black and blue?
I'm hurt inside, but that don't help my case
Cause I can't hide what is on my face
How will it end? Ain't got a friend
My only sin is in my skin
What did I do to be so black and blue?
Tell me, what did I do?
What did I do? What did I do?
What did I do? What did I do?
What did I do? What did I do?
What did I do? Tell me, what did I do to be so black and blue?
What did I do to be so black and blue?
In Gene Harris's song "Black and Blue,” the singer is describing their deep feelings of pain, sadness, and loneliness. The lyrics begin with the singer feeling physical discomfort as they lie in their "cold empty bed" with "springs hard as lead." This physical discomfort is only the beginning of their troubles, as they describe "pains in [their] head" and an unexplained sense of being "old Ned." The refrain and the central question of the song is "What did I do to be so black and blue?"
The singer goes on to describe the isolation they currently face, with "no joys" and "no company." The only living creature in their home, a mouse, even abandoned them. Throughout their life, the singer has been troubled and downtrodden, feeling "forlorn" with a heart that is "torn." These feelings persist despite their internal qualities, as the singer notes, "I'm white inside, but that don't help my case / 'Cause I can't hide what is on my face."
The line "My only sin is in my skin" showcases that the singer is likely black and the song is a poignant commentary on the struggles of African Americans in America. The song is a reflection of the way society judges and discriminates against individuals based on their skin color, oftentimes without any justification or rationale.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold empty bed, springs hard as lead
I am lying in a bed that is as cold and empty as my heart, feeling like the unyielding and heavy springs beneath me.
Pains in my head, feel like old Ned
The pain in my head is so intense that it feels like an old and weary man named Ned is living inside my skull.
What did I do to be so black and blue?
I am wondering why I have been dealt such a difficult and oppressive hand in life, being treated poorly solely because of the color of my skin.
No joys for me, no company
I am alone and without happiness, with no one to keep me company in my sorrow.
Even the mouse ran from my house
The small and insignificant creatures around me are fleeing from my presence, unable to bear the weight of my sadness.
All my life through I've been so black and blue
I have experienced oppression and pain for my entire life simply because of my skin color, leaving me bruised and broken.
I'm white inside, but that don't help my case
My internal being may be pure and good, but it does not make a difference in how others perceive me and treat me because of external factors such as the color of my skin.
Cause I can't hide what is on my face
My emotions are written plainly on my face, unable to disguise the sadness and pain that I feel on a daily basis.
I'm so forlorn. Life's just a thorn
I am miserable and full of despair, with life feeling like a sharp and painful thorn piercing through my heart.
My heart is torn. Why was I born?
My heart aches with the pain of being alive and experiencing such hardship, causing me to question why I was even brought into this world.
I'm hurt inside, but that don't help my case
My internal pain and suffering is valid, but it does not change the fact that my external circumstances are still oppressive and difficult based on my skin color.
How will it end? Ain't got a friend
I am unsure of how this difficult and oppressive journey will come to a close, with no friend or ally to support me along the way.
My only sin is in my skin
The only thing I have done wrong in the eyes of society is being born with a certain skin color, which is not a true sin but is treated as such.
Tell me, what did I do to be so black and blue?
I am pleading with the universe to tell me what I have done to deserve such pain and suffering, solely based on the color of my skin.
What did I do? What did I do?
I am continuously asking this question to myself, wondering what action or decision caused me to be born with this skin color.
Tell me, what did I do to be so black and blue?
I am again asking the universe for an explanation as to why I am experiencing such hardship solely based on my skin color.
What did I do to be so black and blue?
I am left with this question unanswered, wondering why I have been forced to endure such pain and suffering throughout my life merely due to something outside of my control -- the color of my skin.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@loducaondrums
Gene Harris is my favorite piano player… I just think his ability to communicate emotion through the piano is second to none. He can make very simple songs sing so bright and manages to give me goosebumps every time he pushes the envelope. He can make jazz and blues really rock without loosing any of the sensibilities each style possesses.
What a gem
@okiepita50t-town28
He was the best blues/jazz player ever.
@Mccheed
Absolute class!!
@philhanlon4339
Fortunate enough to see Gene on multiple occasions, always with an extremely talented group. We even had the good fortune to meet his daughter on one occasion.
@Jokarlos47
Great Gene Harris, I loved this piano sound
@artwitstick
My music mother nursed me on Ahmad Jamal, but solid food belonged to Gene!
@PureBobby
Epitome of Talent !
@JimSowers
Really, someone actually gave this a thumbs down?! This tune makes me wish I could go back to my childhood and learn to play the piano.
@user-hu9wu5fy6q
Jim Sowers Maybe they wanted to give a thumbs up upside down too😂
@claudiarovan9276
Really I too